Baptism Is Immersion

Our word "baptize" is
translated from the original Greek word "baptizo", which means
to immerse. "Baptizo" does not mean sprinkle or
pour. If our Lord had wanted people to be sprinkled, he would have
inspired the New Testament writers to use the Greek word "rhantizo".
If our Lord wanted people to be poured He would have inspired New
Testament writers to use the Greek word "katacheo". But he didn't, so "baptizo" was used,
which can only mean to immerse.

Let's look in the Bible to see how people were
baptized. In John 3:23 we read, "Now John also was baptizing in Aenon
near Salim, because there was much water there." Why was John
baptizing near Salim? "Because there was much water there."
Scriptural baptism, which is immersion, according to the Bible requires
much water.

In Mark 1:5 we read, "Then all the land of Judea, and
those from Jerusalem, went out to Him, and were all baptized by him in
the Jordan River." Why was John baptizing in the Jordan River?
Could it be "because there was much water there" in a river?

In Mark 1:9-10, we continue to read, "And it came
to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was
baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up out
of the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending
upon Him like a dove." When Jesus was baptized, he was baptized in
the Jordan River. Why? Again, because there is much water in a river which
is required for scriptural baptism, which is immersion. Also notice that
after Jesus was baptized, he came "up out of the water." So
scriptural baptism not only requires much water, but it also requires
"coming up out of the water." This cannot be said of sprinkling
or pouring.

Next we turn to Acts 8:36-39. The evangelist, Philip,
had been teaching the gospel or good news of Christ to an Ethiopian eunuch
while they were riding along in a chariot. Then in verses 36-39 we read:
"Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And
the eunuch said, See here is water, what hinders me from being baptized?
And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he
answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. So he
commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch
went down into the water, and he baptized him. And when they came
up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so
that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing."
Here we see that the baptism that God has authorized in the Bible requires the
"coming to some water", "going down into the water,"
and after a person is immersed it requires "coming up out of the
water." How much clearer could the Bible be on the mode of baptism?
Also notice that after the eunuch was baptized, "he went on his
way rejoicing." Why? Because he was now saved and all of his sins
had been taken away. This is certainly something to rejoice about.

Romans 6:4 says, "Therefore we were buried
with him by baptism into death." Here we see that baptism is a burial,
which is what is done when one is immersed. Sprinkling is not a burial; it
is only sprinkling. Neither is pouring a burial. Both are unlawful
substitutions made by man which will cause many people to be lost.

Colossians 2:12 says that we are "buried
with him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him."
Here again God requires the one being baptized, to be buried and raised
when he is baptized. When we bury a dead person in the cemetery, we do not
lay him out on the grass and sprinkle a little dirt on him. No, that would
be absurd, and it is just as absurd in trying to substitute sprinkling for
baptism. Sprinkling for baptism is foreign to the scriptures. God did not
authorize it. There is not one instance anywhere in the Bible where anyone
was sprinkled for baptism.

But we then ask the question, where then did sprinkling or pouring come
from? The first recorded case in all of early church history was that of
Novatian in 251 AD, who lay sick on his bed and water was poured on him.
Who made this first exception, man or God? Man did without the
authorization of God. God has not approved of it. Sprinkling is just as
vain as if it had never been done. This man made exception over the
centuries became the man made accepted practice until at the Council of
Ravenna in 1311 AD, man legalized sprinkling for baptism, but without God's
authority. Since sprinkling is without God's authority, if you were
sprinkled or poured, then you have not been scripturally baptized, and you still
have every sin that you have ever committed and are still lost.

Questions Lesson 19

Baptism Is Immersion(click on the button of the answer of your
choice)

1) The Greek word "baptizo" means to

Sprinkle.

Pour.

Immerse.

2)
The Greek word "baptizo" also means to sprinkle.

3) (John 3:23) Why was John baptizing in Aenon near Salim?

It was handy.

Because there was much water there.

It was close to where the people were.

4)
Scriptural baptism which is immersion requires much water.

5) (Mark 1:5) Where was John baptizing these people in Mark 1:5?

From a hand held pitcher of water being poured on their heads.

In the River Jordan.

In Jerusalem with water being sprinkled on their heads.

6)
Immersion requires enough water to bury an individual such as a river.

7) (Mark 1:7-10) When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River

He never got down into the water.

He stood on the shore and water was poured on his head.

He came up out of the water after His baptism.

8)
Jesus
was baptized in the Jordan River because there is much water in a river.

9) (Acts 8:36-39) When Philip baptized the Ethopian eunuch

Water from a canteen was poured on the eunuch's head.

They could not find any water in which to baptize.

They came to some water.

10)
The baptism of the eunuch did not require coming to water.

11) (Acts 8:36-39) When Philip baptized the eunuch

They both went down into the water and came up out of the water.

They stood on the shore and Philip poured water on the eunuch.

They stayed in the chariot and Philip sprinkled water on the eunuch from a canteen.

12)
The baptism of the eunuch did not require going down into and coming up
out of the water.

13) (Acts 8:36-39) When did the eunuch rejoice?

Before he was baptized.

He never rejoiced.

After he was baptized.

14)
The
eunuch went on his way rejoicing because he was saved and free from sin.